Conveyer adjustment for terracing machines



April 27, 1954 J. c. WOOLEY 2,676,423 CONVEYER ADJUSTMENT FOR TERRACING MACHINES Filed May 1, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 F3 Ki 0) I m 5 r0 r: a? N Q g 523 E E? St E m E Q g N Q I? a a AT RNEYS April 27, 1954 J. c. WOOLEY CONVEYER ADJUSTMENT FOR TERRACING MACHINES Filed May 1, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN c. WOOLEY April 27, 1954 J. c. WOOLEY CONVEEYER ADJUSTMENT FOR TERRACING MACHINES Filed May 1, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 mmvron. JOHN c. WOOLEY April 27, 1954 J, q, woo 2,676,423

CONVEYER ADJUSTMENT FOR TERRACING MACHINES.

Filed May 1, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 1N VEN TOR. JOHN C. WOOLEY April 27,, 1954 J. c. woouzv 2,676,423 comm AnJuSruEm' FOR mmcmc mamm- Filed lay 1, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 mmvrozz. JOHN c. WOOLEY BY w ATNEYS April 27, 1954 J: c. WOOLEY 2,676,423 CONVEYER ADJUSTMENT FOR TERRACING MACHINES Filed May 1, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet e FIG 9 INVENTOR. JOHN C. WOOLEY A RNEYS Patented Apr. 27, 1954 H UNITED STATES CON VEYER ADJUSTMENT FOR TERRACING MACHINES John C. Wooley, Columbia, Mo. Application May 1, 1948, Serial No. 24,449 6 Claims. (Cl. 37110) l 2 The present invention relates generally to agri Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing cultural machines and more particularly to tercertain details of the frame construction. racing machines of the conveyor type, embodying Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line generally a plow element for loosening and re- 5- 5 of Figure 4.

moving soil and a laterally movable conveyor ele- 5 Figure 6 is a View taken generally along the ment receiving the loosened soil from the plow line t$ of Figure 5.

element and transferring the same laterally, Figure 7 is a view taken generally along the line whereby a terrace may be built by making several 'i l' of Figure 5.

passes across a field or other place where the ter- Figure 7a is a fragmentary perspective view,

race is desired. 0 showing details of the disk standard and associ- The object and general nature of the present ated bracing structure.

invention is the provision of a terracing machine Figure 8 shows a modified form of the present embodying a new and improved frame construcinvention in which an auxiliary disk is provided tion wherein the plow element and conveyor or for turning some of the top soil back into the elevator are supported on separate but pivotally bottom of a previously formed furrow.

interconnected frames, each having a supporting Figure 9 is a, further modified form showing the round wheel and mechanism arranged to raise provision of a reversible disk.

and lower the plow element and the adjacent end Referring now more particularly to Figures of the conveyor or elevator. l-3, the terracing machine of the present inven- Another featu e of the present invention is tion includes amain frame construction indicated the provision of a terracing machine having a in its entirety by reference numeral I and displow element in the form of a disk, together with posed generally transversely with respect to the a pair of guides or wheels disposed ahead of and direction of travel, and a hitch frame 2 behind the disk and arranged to bear against connected in a vertical rigid manner with he furrow wall for the pu p o u i g and the main frame construction I and with the stabilizing the terracing machine in operation. drawbar 3 of a propelling tractor t. The tractor A further feature of this invention is the pro- 5 is of conventional construction, so far as the vision of a particular kind of plow element empresent invention is concerned, including a hybodying a main furrow forming disk and an draulic unit 5, a power take-off shaft '6, and rear auxiliary plow element arranged rearwardly of drive wheels I mounted fixedly on drive shafts the first mentioned disk and disposed so as to re d journaled for rotation in a rear axle structure e the p Soil m t e round adjacent the 9. The power lift unit 5 is of conventional confurrow and deposit the same in an adjacent furstruction so far as the present invention is conrow, so as to prevent placing all of the desirable cerned, incorporating a hydraulic unit adapted to top soil within the terrace, while leaving the upper be controlled by the operator and including a and adjacent surfaces of the latter bare and with hose line I l for conveying liquid under pressure Out good tillable S to and from a single acting cylinder 1 2 on the im- Still further, another feature of the present plement. The cylinder l2 forms a part of a ram v nt n is h p vi i n of a t rracin machine unit I3 to which more detailed reference will be having a reversible disk whereby the machine made below, may be operated back and forth on the same side The hitch frame 2 is adapted to be connected cf the terrace for continually adding soil to conto the drawbar 3 of the tractor 4 by means of a struct the terrace as desired, thereby eliminating hitch pin 2i, and the hitch frame 2 includes a any necessity for operating on both sides of the main draft member 22, preferably of T shape terrace for building the letter. and having its rear end flattened, as at 23, and

These and other objects and advantages of apertured. Th front end of the hitch bar 22 the p e invention Wi l be apparent to those carries a sleeve 25 in which a draft pin 26 is skilled in the art after a consideration of the foldisposed. A collar 2? is fixed to the rearend of lowing detailed description, taken in conjunction the pin 26 and serves to transmit the forward with the accompanying drawings, in which: pull to the hitch frame 2 through a reenforcing Figure 1 is a front view of a terracing machine angle 28. The hitch frame 2 also includes a which the principles of the present invention diagonal angle 3! which is connected at its front have n incorporated; end by a bolt 32 to the main draft bar 22 and at Figure 2 is a rear view of the terracing machine its rear end is connected adjustably to an excWn Figure tension 33 which is apertured to receive a stud Figure 3 is a side View showing particularly the 34 fixed to a bracket 35 that is fixed to the forlandward supporting wheel and means for raisward side of the implement frame. The main ing and lowering the end of the frame carrying draft member 22 is held against vertical movethe F element 01 d sk; nient relative to the implement by means of a brace bar 31 which is made up of two adjustabli associated sections 38 and 38, the former being connected to the front end of the main hitch bar 22 and the section 30 being connected at its rear end to an upper portion of the implement.

The frame I of the implement includes two frame sections 4| and 42. The former frame section or plow frame, is preferably of U-shaped formation, best shown in Figure 4, and includes front and rear side sections 43 and 44, and a central or interconnecting section 45 disposed at one side of the machine. The sections 43, 44 and 45 are preferably channels interconnected at their junctions by any suitable means, such as upper and lower reenforcing plates 45. Preferably, the adjacent ends of the channels 43 and 44 are apertured, as shown in Figure 2, at 53, to receive the ends of a heavy cross bar 5|. The ends of the bar 5| are welded to angle brackets 54 (Figure 9) which are bolted, as at 55 and 56, to the channels 43, 44 and 45. The angle brackets 54 also are welded to the upper and lower plates 45, the brackets 54 also being bolted to the interconnecting frame section 35, as shown in Figure 9.

Secured to the plow frame section 4| is a draftreceiving rectangular sub-frame, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral I. This member is preferably formed of four channel sections suitably welded together and disposed in a generally vertical position with the rear vertical channel member 32 thereof secured, as by weld ing, to the inner face of the plow frame channel 43. The sub-fram 6| is reenforced by a pair of braces 35 and 66. The brace 65 extends between the upper portion of the channel 62 and the two frame members and 45 to which the brace 35 is welded. The forward end of the brace 65 is welded to a plate 68 which in turn is bolted, welded or otherwise fixed to the channel 32, as best shown in Figure 5. The other brace member 66 extends from the upper brace 05 downwardly to the lower end portion of the channel 62, the lower end of the brace 66 being fixed, as by welding, to an attachment plate 60 which in turn is fixed in any suitable manner to the lower end of the channel 32. The subframe 6| carries upper and lower stud sections II and I2 which, as best shown in Figure 3, receive the upper and lower draft members 30 and 22. If desired, the studs II and I2 may comprise a single generally vertically disposed shaft secured in any suitable way to the draft frame section 3|.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, a plow element in the form of a disk BI is mounted by journal means 82 (Figure 3) on the lower end of a disk bearing support 83. The upper portion of the support 33 is provided with a channel or groove which seats over a plate 83 (Figure 5) fixed to the lower end of a disk standard 81. The latter member preferably comprises a channel 03 (Figure 5) disposed generally vertically and fixed at its lower end to a plate 89 (Figure '7) disposed generally horizontally and to which a vertical apertured plate 9| is fixed, as by welding. The apertures in the support 83 and the apertures in the plate 0| may be slotted so as to provide for lateral adjustment of the member 83 relative to the member 9|. The member 9| is reenforced by a brace 93 which is welded at its lower end to the lower portion of the plate 9|, to the rear edge of the horizontal plate section 80 (Figure '7) and at its upper end to a plate 94 (Figure 3) to which the upper end of the channel 88 is also fixed, preferably by welding. Secured to the plate 94 at its upper side is an attaching channel section 91, and the latter is fixed to the frame channel 45 by a clamp bolt 96 and by one or more bolts 98.

The plow disk standard 81 also includes a vertical plate I03 which is welded at its lower end to the disk bearing support receiving member 9| and at its upper end to a generally T-shaped attaching section I04 which is provided with fore and aft extending portions I05 and I36 which are rigidly secured to the bar 5| by a pair of clamps I09 mentioned above. The rear attaching plate extension I06 extends rearwardly beyond the rear clamp I00 and receives a diagonally downwardly extending brace I01 which is welded at its upper end to the extension I06 and at its lower end to the lower portion of the plate I03.

Front and rear guide wheel units III and II2 are carried by the plow frame 4| fore and aft of the plow element or disk 8|. The front guide wheel unit comprises a vertically disposed channel member I I4 disposed between the draft frame 6| and a vertical plate |I3 (Figure 6). The upper end of the latter is fixed to the frame 6| by a U-shaped part H5. The lower end of the member I I4 is provided with a suitable extension H5 which provides a support for a stub shaft or the like on which a furrow wall engaging roller I I3 is mounted, preferably at an angle so as to bear substantially flat against the adjacent portions of the furrow wall, as indicated in Figure 6. An auxiliary shoe guide III is fixed to the lower end of the member H4 just above the roller H6. The member H4 is arranged to be raised and lowered, and to this end the plate 3 is apertured to receive a bolt H8 and the channel ||4 has two or more holes I I3 to receive the bolt H8 in either of two or more vertical positions. The lower end of the plate H3 is welded to one of the two braces I2! and 522 (Fig. 3) which connect the lower portion of the draft frame section 6| with the adjacent end of the frame channel 45. Also, a pair of short angles I23 are welded to the lower section of the draft frame BI and disposed on opposite sides of the guide wheel standard H4 and are connected by a strap I24 which embraces the standard Ht, effectively fixing the lower end of the latter in position. The rear guide wheel unit II?! is disposed generally rearwardly of the plow disk 8| and includes a roller I25 rotatably mounted on the lower angled portion of a channel I26 which is fastened in different positions of vertical adjustment to the plate I03 by bolt means I21. A scraper I28 is fixed to the lower end of the channel I20.

The frame proper of the conveyor or elevator unit 42 is indicated in Figure 4 by the reference numeral I30 and comprises a front channel HM and a rear channel I32 secured together in fore and aft spaced relation by an angle member I33 welded at its ends to depending brackets I35 and I36 that in turn are welded to the lower portion of the channels |3| and I32. The forward bracket I33 serves to receive the draft bracket section 35. The channels ESE, I32 and cross angle I33 constitute one portion of the frame I30, the other portion of which includes a pair of inner channel sections I31 and I38 and an interconnecting yoke I30. Said frame portions just mentioned constitute relatively adjustable inner and outer frames or conveyor frame sections. The yoke unit is made up of a vertically arched channel member MI, two pairs of vertical laterally spaced apart angles M2 and M3 and plate members M5 and i 55 (Figure 4) to which the angles I42 and I43 are fixed. The of the plow frame section angles making up the pairs shown. in Figure 4, the vertical plates I45 and I45 being slotted to receive the channels and provide for the raising and lowering of the inner end of the conveyor frame unit 42 relative to the plow frame unit. At the upper ends of the angles i 52 and M3, the outer ends of the arched channel MI are secured, by bolts, to the plate members M5 and M5. The extension channel sections it] and E33 are rigidly interconnected by a generally semi-circular chan nel or trough I5I. The members it? and l38 form the means for supporting a laterally inner conveyor or elevator roller I52, the members it? and I38 carrying suitable bearings for this purpose. The outer ends of the channels It! and H32 carry suitable bearings for receiving a laterally outer elevator and conveyor roller I55. An endless elevator or conveyor belt I55 is trained over the rollers I52 and 555, and by adjusting the positions of the members I3? and I38 relative to the channels I3I and M2, the belt 456 may be maintained in taut load-bearing relation. Suitable additional rollers and/or braces may be provided between the channels 135 32 and the members I 31 and 135i if deemed neces sary. The roller I55 constitutes the driving element for driving the conveyor or elevator belt 556 and may be driven by any suitable means,

extendbetween the 42 and I43, as best such as a conventional sprocket and chain construction enclosed within a housing its supported on the front channel d3 of the plow frame unit 4!. The channel 43 adjacent its inner end carries an adjustable support E82 in which a driving sprocket is disposed, the sprocket being mounted on a shaft I63 which is connected by a universal joint I61! with an extension power shaft iii-5 driven through a universal joint 555 from the power take-off shaft 6 of the tractor Suitable adjusting means It! provides for shift- I62 along the tension in the ing the driving sprocket support channel 43 whereby the proper driving chain may be maintained.

The supporting shaft of the inner roller 552 is connected through suitable sprocket and chain mechanism (not shown) carried by one of the members I3! and I 33 to drive a double auger shaft Eli] on which two worms Ill and H2 are fixed. The worms or angers Ill and H2 are of opposite hand, and the angers fit closely in the channel I5I, one edge H3 of which engages the surface of the roller I52 so as to scrape adhering soil and the like therefrom, the oppositely formed angers I1! and I'i2 working the soil outwardly of the conveyor unit through openings in the members I31 and I38. formed for that purpose. The auger shaft H0 is mounted in any suitable bearing means, as indicated by the reference numeral 115 in Figure 2, which shows the rear end of the auger shaft. One of the openings through which the rear auger section H2 moves the soil is indicated by the reference numeral He in Figure 2. The adjusting means for the lower conveyor support members I3! and E38, indicated generally at I ll in Figures 1 and 2, and the drive for the clean-out angers are substantially like that shownin U. S. Patent 2,089,319, issued August 10, 1937, to John C. Wooley et al. and reference may be had to such patent if necessary. The pairs of angles I42 and. M3 are provided with a. plurality of. openings I raising'theinner end of the placing: a pair of pins I8! in selected openings the inner end of the conveyor unit may be sup ported at diiferent heights relative to the plow frame, thus disposing the receiving end of the conveyor unit in: different positions relative to the plow disk 81. The two frames, namely, plow frame @I and the conveyor frame 62, are pivotally interconnectedin anysuitable way. Preferably, the outer ends of the channels 43 and I3I are interconnected through. axially aligned bearing means 20'! and 292 in which the: forward end of the shaft 203', forming. a part of the power driven elevator roller I55, is received. The outer end of the rear plow frame channel i t is pivotally connected by a bolt or the like, as indicated at 29$,with the rear conveyor'framechannel I32, as best shown in Figure 4. If desired, however, the channel #3 3 may be pivoted to the frame I30 at a point coincidental with the axis of the roller I55.

The laterally outer end of the conveyor unit 42 is supported on a ground Wheel 2216 which is carried at the lower end of a standard 2H that is adjustably received in av depending bracket structure 2I2, best shown. in Figure 2, which connects across the outer ends of the channels IZiI and E32. A transverse brace 2H! is connected between the central portion of the bracket structure 2!! and the cross angle I 33, as best shown in Figures 2 and 4. At the other side of the machine the outer end of the plow frame is supported on a vertical swingable ground engaging support, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 2I'5'. As best shown in Figure 3, the support 2I5 includes a ground wheel ZIB mounted for rotation on a stub axle 2H extending laterally outwardly (Figure 2) from the lower end of an upwardly and rearwardly extending shank 2H? which. is fixed to the lower end of a box strut member 22L A laterally inwardly extending shaft 222 is fixed at its outer end to the upper end of the member HI and is rockably received in a sleeve 223 fixed to the laterally outer end of the rear frame channel it, as best shown in Figure 2. Preferably, the sleeve 223 is fixed at a fiat angle to the. channels it whereby the shaft portion 222 is normally horizontal While the plow frame M is in a normally angled position, as shown in Figure 2. The shaft 222 is held in position in the sleeve 223 by a collar 22:51 or other suitable means.

As best shown in. Figure 3, a tubular link 228 is connected at its lower end to the lower portionof. the box strut member 22?, and at its upper end the link member 228 is fixed to an opening in a bracket 229 that is fixed to the central channel @5 of the plow frame unit 4|. A tubular stop member in the form of a slide 232 is disposed: about the tubular link 228 and may be fixed in different positions relative thereto, as by a pin or bolt The slide 232 is provided. with a bracket-engaging lug 23B, and when the slide is in an uppermost position on the link 2285,, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, the frame 4! is held in an elevated position relative to the surface of the ground, which also holds the disk ill and associated parts, together with the receiving end' of the conveyor unit, in an elevated position. The sleeve 232 may be disposed in diiferent positions on the tubular link 228 manually.

The stub shaft 2H,, box strut member 22I and shaft 222 constitute: a. crank axle structure 220 (Figure 2), and by conveyor unit and swingably mounted on the plow frame and adapted to be shifted generally vertically for disposing the ground wheel 2I6 in different positions so as to control the working and transport positions of the disk BI. As mentioned above, the ram unit I3 is connected with the crank axle 220 for shifting the wheel 2I5 relative to the associated frame. To this end, a piston rod 24I (Figure 3), which is disposed within a pair of telescoping protecting sleeves 242 and 243 connected respectively to the cylinder I2 and the crank axle 226, is pivotally connected, as at 245, to a slide 246 which is shiftably disposed between a pair of guides 241 carried by the crank member 22I. A link 248 is pivoted to the upper end of the slide 246 and to the frame channel 45, as indicated at 249. The purpose of this arrangement is to give the ram unit I3 a greater mechanical advantage when the crank member 220 is more nearly in a horizontal position than when it is in a more nearly vertical position, the latter position being indicated in Figure 3. As will be clear from Figure 3, a given angular displacement of the crank axle member 220 when the frame is in a more nearly vertical position results in a smaller amount of lifting or lowering of the frames than when the crank axle is more nearly in a horizontal position, and hence when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 3, the ram unit I3 need not have as great a moment arm as when the crank axle is more nearly in a horizontal position. When the machine is in operation, the slide 232 may be disposed in such position that the disk 8| may be lowered into operating position merely by releasing the fluid in the cylinder I2, depending upon the contact between the slide 232 and the bracket 229 determining the proper operating position, or the ram unit I3 may be relied upon entirely for determining the operating position when the slide 232 is moved into a lowermost position, as indicated in Figure 3 in full lines. The upper end of the cylinder I2 is pivotally connected by a pin 25I carried by a bracket structure 252 supported at the upper end of a channel standard 253. The latter member is secured in any suitable way, as by welding, to the channel 45 and is reenforced by the generally fore and aft extending braces 254.

The laterally outer end of the conveyor unit 42 is provided with a pair of side members 26I and 262 which preferably are supported by brackets 263 and 264 fixed at their lower ends to the channels I3I and I32. The lower or inner edges of the side members 26I and 262 are bent inwardly over the conveying portion of the elevator belt 256, and auxiliary sheet metal flange members 265 and 266 are fixed to the lower edges of the side members to receive flexible strips 261. The strips 261 overlie the conveying portion of the belt I56 and prevent dirt from dropping off the belt before it reaches the discharge end of the machine, being the left end as shown in Figure 1. A pair of inner side members HI and 212 are arranged in telescoping relation with the laterally inner ends of the side members 26I and 262. The inner side members 21I and 212 are supported at their laterally innermost ends by suitable connections to the yoke plates I45 and I46, and to accommodate the movement of the inner side members 21I and 212 relative to the outer side members when the extension channel members I31 and I38 are shifted relative to the outer channel sections I3I and I32, the

members 21I and 212 carry 216 and 211 which are slidably supported at the upper ends of a pair of standards 216 which are fixed to the channel members I3I and I32 on opposite sides of the conveyor frame 42. The laterally inner side members 2H and 212 carry sheet metal flange members 286 and 28I, similar to the flanges 265 and 266 mentioned above. The laterally innermost ends of the sealing strips 261 are received within the channel members 280 and 28I so as to prevent loss of soil from the inner portions of the belt I55.

The operation of the machine as so far described is substantially as follows.

After the machine is hitched, at 2 I, to the tractor drawbar 3 and the drive shaft I65 connected with the power take-off shaft of the tractor, the machine is ready for operation. For transporting the machine to the field the crank axle 229 is swung downwardly into the position shown in Figure 3, which raises the disk BI and furrow or guide wheels H6 and I25 out of contact with the ground. When the field is reached the operator actuates the power lift unit 5 so as to release the fluid in the cylinder I2. This permits the machine to lower, the working depth or position of operation being determined either by the position of the depth adjustment slide 232 or by the operator terminating the flow of fluid from the cylinder I2 at th desired point. For making the first round, the operator raises the guide unit I I I and places the bolt II8 in the lowermost hole IIS so as to hold the unit III out of contact with the ground for the first round, but after the latter has been completed the operator removes the bolt M8, moves the unit III to a lower position, so as to engage a furrow wall, and replaces the bolt I I8 so as to hold the unit I I I in the position shown in Figures 3 and 5. Thus, normally the front and rear guide wheels I I6 and I25 hold the disk 8| in proper position by bearing against the furrow wall of the previously formed furrow, in the case of the forward guide wheel H6, and against the furrow wall of the furrow opened by the disk BI in the case of the rear guide wheel I25. The soil removed by the disk 8| flows upwardly onto the conveyor belt I56 and is discharged laterally outwardly of the machine by the movement of the conveyor 01' elevator belt I56, the same being driven from the power take-off shaft of the tractor. The position of the receiving end of the conveyor unit relative to the disk may be adjusted at any time by raising the inner end, removing the pins NH and placing them in other holes in the angles I62 and I43 and then letting the inner end of the conveyor rest on the plow frame channels 43 and 44. It will thus be seen that terraces of any desired contour may be easily and, quickly constructed by the use of my machine. Ordinarily, the machine is driven along one side of the projected terrace, the disk being lowered to remove soil from the ground and the elevator or conveyor belt will transfer the soil over onto the terrace. On the return trip on the other side of the terrace the same operation occurs, so that by repeated rounds the terrace is easily and quickly built.

Under some conditions, such as, for example, where the top soil is relatively thin and the underlying sub-soil poor or deficient in crop growing qualities, it may not be desirable to leave the channel alongside the terrace bare of all top soil. To that end, I have devised a modified form of the present invention which is best shown in Figure 8. Referring now to this figure, an auxiliary laterally inner side horizontal brackets The curved channel or guide disk SM is carried by a standard 302 which at its upper end is bolted to a bracket 303 detachably connected to the rear plow frame angle 44 in a position above, rearwardly and landwardly of the main plow disk 8!. The auxiliary disk 31H is disposed so as to remove only the top soil of the ground immediately adjacent the furrow F formed by the main plow disk 8!. The disk is angled so as to deposit the top soil either in the immediately adjacent furrow F behind the disk all or, if desired, a shield 305 may be provided for conveying the top soil across the furrow F into a previously formed furrow f. The shield 3&5 preferably is in the form of a blade to be carried in a more or less vertical position and at an angle that will tend to move the top soil loosened by the disk 35H into the channel back of the machine. The landward end of the shield lies back of the disk 30! and the shield is of sufficient length to carry top soil at least into the furrow F and also into the previously formed furrow where desired. Preferably, provision may be made for vertical and/or angular adjustment of the shield in order to provide for disposing the same in the proper soil is not carried over into the terrace but is left on the upper surface of the bare ground from which soil has been removed on previous rounds.

A further modified form of the present invention shown in Figure 9. Under some conditions, it may be desirable to build the terrace by removing soil only from one side, and to that end the terracing machine of the present invention may be hitched to a tractor so as to be driven in opposite directions thereby. When used in this way, it is desirable to provide a furrow opening disk of the reversible type to take the place of the plow disk ti and associated connections shown and described above. Referring now to Figure 9, a 3 i ii is mounted on a disk supporting standard or beam 3G6 which has its upper end formed as a journal section received for rotation in a vertical sleeve 3E8 fixed to the frame channel 435 in any suitable manner, as by an attachment plate 3i? which may be bolted or welded to the channel 45. A thrust receiving bracket 32!] is also bolted, as at 325, to the channel and extends downwardly therefrom and serves as a support for an arcuate channel guide 323 in which a roller 32% carried in suitable lugs 32%? is disposed, the lugs 32% being secured rigidly to the lower end of the disk-supporting beam or standard Bit. 323 is disposed in a position to he arcuate about the center coinciding with the axis of rotation of the beam or standard 35% in the sleeve 3118. The bracket 3253 includes a reenforcing brace 33E? which at its upper end be connected to the cross bar '25 in any suitable way. Any suitable means may be provided for holding the disk 3 and disk standard 356 in a position facing either forwardly or rearwardly so as to provide for either forward or rearward direction of travel of the machine. The standard 3E5 is so disposed that the disk 355 delivers soil to the receiving end of the conveyor unit in either position of the disk.

operation in this way the terracing machine preferably is connected with a tractor of the two wheel or unstable type, the connection being made so that the implement may either be pushed or pulled, as desired.

While I have shown and described above, the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that my invention is not to position. In this way, the top 1. A terracing machine comprising a generally U shaped plow frame, a soil-removing plow carried by one end portion of said plow frame, the other end portion including laterally extending fore and aft spaced apart frame sections, a conveyor frame disposed between and pivotally connected with said frame sections and including inner conveyor frame portion adjustable toard and away from said plow, an endless conveyor for receiving soil from said plow, roller means carried at the laterally outer end of said conveyor frame and on said inner conveyor frame portion for receiving said endless conveyor, adjustment of said inner conveyor frame portion relative to the other portion of the conveyor frame serving to adjust the tension in said conveyor, means for pivotally connecting the outer portion of said conveyor frame on the spaced apart frame sections of said plow frame, means serving as a yoke overlying said plow frame adjacent said soil removing plow and connected with the adjustable portion of said conveyor frame, said yoke means including generally vertically adjustable portions adapted to hold the soil-receiving end of said conveyor frame in different vertical positions relative to said soil removing plow, and overlapping side sections carried said conveyor frame at the front and l ar sides thereof, the laterally inner side secis being fixed to said yoke means and said adole conveyor frame portion and shiftable tive to the other side sections, said other side ctions being fixed to the laterally outer portions of said conveyor frame.

2.1 terracing machine adapted to be connected to and partially supported on a propelling tractor, said terracing machine comprising a plow frame, a plow element carired thereby, a single ground wheel connected with said plow frame generally landwardly of said plow element in transverse alignment therewith, a conveyor frame extending laterally from said plow frame, an extension fixed to said plow frame and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, means pivotally connecting the outer end of the conveyor frame to the outer end of said extension, means connected between the inner end of the conveyor frame and the adjacent portion of the plow frame for limiting the downward movement of the inner end of the conveyor frame relative to said plow frame about the axis of pivotal connection of said frames, ground wheel means oonly with the laterally outer end necteol supporti g frame generally in transverse of said conveyor al rent with said plow element and said first .ound wheel and disposed laterally outwardly of pivotal connection between the laterally outer end of said conveyor frame and said plow frame extension, whereby a part of the weight of the plow frame and said extension is carried by conveyor frame wheel means, and a part of the weight of the conveyor frame is carried on said single ground wheel, and a hitch structure connected at its rear end in vertically rigid relation to said plow frame and adapted to be supportingly connected at its forward end to said tractor for lateral swinging relative to the tractor.

3. A terracing machine adapted to be con- 11 nected to and partially supported on a propelling tractor, said terracing machine comprising a plow frame, a plow element fixed to said plow frame, ground wheel means connected with said plow frame laterally outwardly of said plow element, a conveyor frame extending laterally outwardly from said pow frame in a direction opposite from said ground wheel means, a hitch frame connected at its rear end with the plow frame in lateral and vertical rigidity and connected at its forward end to the tractor for both lateral and vertical swinging relative thereto, ground wheel means connected supportingly with the outer end of said conveyor frame and generally in transverse alignment with said first ground wheel means, means pivotally connecting the laterally outer portion of said conveyor frame with the laterally outer portion of said plow frame at two fore-and-aft spaced apart points, means fixing the laterally inner end of said conveyor frame to said plow frame at two fore-and-aft spaced apart points including means at each side of the conveyor frame for changing the vertical position of the laterally inner end of said conveyor frame relative to said plow element, whereby each of said frames is partially supported on the other and the associated ground wheel means, and means connecting the hitch frame in vertically rigid relation with said plow frame and in horizontally rigid relation with said conveyor frame.

4. A terracing machine adapted to be connected to and partially supported on a propelling tractor having a power take-off, said terracing machine comprising a plow frame, a plow element carried thereby, a single ground wheel connected with the rear portion of said plow frame, a conveyor frame extending laterally outwardly from said plow frame, a conveyor means carried by said conveyor frame, an extension fixed to said plow frame and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, means pivotally connecting the outer end of the conveyor frame to the outer end of said extension, means connected between the inner end of the conveyor frame and the adjacent portion of the plow frame for limiting the downward movement of the inner end of the conveyor frame relative to said plow frame about the axis of pivotal connection of said frames, ground wheel means connected supportingly with the laterally outer end of said conveyor frame laterally outwardly of said axis, whereby a part of the weight of the plow frame and said extension is carried by said conveyor frame wheel means, and a part of the weight of the conveyor frame is carried on said single ground wheel means, and drive means connected with said power take-off shaft and acting coincidentally with the axis of pivoting of said conveyor frame relative to the plow frame for driving said conveyor.

5. A terracing machine adapted to travel across a field to be terraced, said machine comprising a generally U-shaped plow frame disposable transversely relative to the line of travel, a conveyor unit comprising a pair of relatively adjustable laterally inner and outer frames disposed between the side portions of said plow frame, means pivoting the laterally outer portion of said outer frame to the laterally outer ends of the spaced apart side portions of said U-shaped plow frame, a soil-removing plow carried by the laterally inner end of said plow frame opposite said spaced apart plow frame portions, a

conveyor carried at opposite ends on said relatively adjustable frames respectively, means slidably engaging said plow frame for shiftably supporting the inner end of the inner of said relatively adjustable conveyor frames in different positions of adjustment thereof along said plow frame, and said slidable means including means for varying the position of the laterally inner end of said conveyor generally vertically relative to said plow frame.

6. A terracing machine comprising a generally U-shaped plow frame including a central section and a pair of fore-and-aft spaced apart, laterally extending sections, there being an open space between said sections, a soil-removing plow carried by the central section of said plow frame, a conveyor frame disposed in the space between the outer ends of said laterally extending plow frame sections and pivotally connected at a pair of fore-and-aft spaced points to the outer ends of said plow frame sections, a conveyor carried by said conveyor frame and having its soil-receiving end disposed adjacent said plow to receive soil therefrom, means for rigidly supporting the inner end of said conveyor frame with said plow frame at a pair of fore-and-aft spaced apart points adjacent said plow, whereby said plow frame and conveyor frames are held against tilting, one relative to the other, about a laterally extending axis, said supporting means comprising a yoke extending in a generally fore-and-aft direction and including front and rear leg sections connected at their lower ends with said conveyor frame and means connected with leg sections and disposable in different vertical positions relative thereto and engaging said lateral- 1y extending plow frame sections for supporting said yoke in different vertical positions on said plow frame at two fore-and-aft points thereon, a ground-engaging wheel connected with said plow frame generally adjacent said central section and disposed generally between the vertical transverse planes passing through the laterally extending fore-and-aft sections of the plow frame, said conveyor frame extending laterally beyond the laterally outer ends of said plow frame sections, ground-engaging means carried by the laterally outer end of said conveyor frame, laterally outwardly beyond the ends of said plow frame sections, and a forwardly extending hitch frame connected at one side to the plow frame at a pair of vertically spaced apart points there on adjacent said central section, so as to be vertically rigid with said plow frame, and at the other side to the conveyor frame adjacent its pivotal connection to the forward laterally extending section of the plow frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 4,676 Wauchope Dec. 12, 1871 935,992 Kerr Oct. 5, 1909 1,150,588 Fell Aug. 17, 1915 1,471,887 Dorney et al. Oct. 23, 1923 1,827,897 Miller Oct. 20, 1931 1,890,972 Davis Dec. 13, 1932 2,089,319 Wooley et al. Aug. 10, 1937 2,248,709 Jarmin July 8, 1941 2,256,816 Scarlett Sept. 23, 1941 2,526,186 Allen et al Oct. 17, 1950 2,555,335 Gulick June 5, 1951 2,577,885 Gay, Jr Dec. 11, 1951 

